Spurs memory 5: Robinson rides off with 2003 title as Duncan notches triple-double

The “Twin Towers Era” ended with the most spectacular of all conclusions for the Spurs.

Tim Duncan produced a near quadruple-double in David Robinson’s final career game as the Spurs charged to an 88-77 Game 6 victory against New Jersey in the 2003 NBA Finals.

Duncan notched 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocked shots in one of the most memorable games in his career. That big game was accentuated by Robinson, who chipped in with 13 points and 17 rebounds in his final career game.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Duncan, who produced the fourth of his five career playoff triple-doubles and the first triple-double in an NBA Finals game in 10 seasons. “I thought this was the most poise we’ve shown all season long and it’s great working up to this point and having the pitfalls that we’ve had throughout these playoffs, then put together a game like we did today, where we’re down the entire game but we just keep playing.”

Robinson, who was 37 when the game was played, walked away a champion as he joined a limited group of players who won a NBA title in their final career game.

“There was absolutely nothing bitter about it, it was all sweet,” Robinson told reporters after the game. “Everything that came along, I swallowed it up. This is my last game, streamers flying, world champions. How could you write a better script that this? I’ve had some ups and downs in my career, but I’m going to end on the highest of highs.”

It capped the association of Duncan and Robinson after leading the Spurs to two championships in the final five seasons of Robinson’s career. The veteran center helped to make it happen after he made a dramatic last-minute visit with Duncan to plead with him to stay in San Antonio which it appeared that Duncan was ready to bolt to Orlando during the 2000 free-agent period.

Duncan and Robinson combined for 37 rebounds – two more than the entire New Jersey team.

The Spurs received a huge lift from Stephen Jackson, who drilled three 3-pointers and scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. And backup point guard Speedy Claxton provided 13 points and four assists in 23 minutes in relief of an ineffective Tony Parker, who was limited to four points and three turnovers.

After trailing by nine points early in the fourth quarter, the Spurs erupted on a 19-0 run that put the game away. San Antonio outscored the Nets 31-14 in the final period as New Jersey was limited to 24 percent in the fourth quarter.

“We lost our composure,” New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd told reporters after the game. “There are little things that change the momentum of the game and we had control of the game pretty much in hand. We would go eight, six, you know, go up by 12. I thought one of the turning points was when (Manu) Ginobili got the steal from [Richard Jefferson] and laid it up. From that point on we kind of unraveled. Then we had some miscues on the defensive end.”

Ginobili helped key the surge with 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

The Spurs tough interior defense from Duncan and Robinson befuddled New Jersey power forward Kenyon Martin, who was limited to six points on a frigid 3-for-23 shooting effort.

Duncan finished with eight blocked shots to earn a share of the Finals record. It would be broken in 2009 by Orlando’s Dwight Howard with nine against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Spurs forward finished with 32 blocked shots in the six-game series to set a Finals record.

Duncan became only the ninth player in NBA history to win the regular-season and NBA Finals MVP awards in the same season. In the series against the Nets, Duncan averaged 24.2 points, 17.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 5.3 blocked shots.

The Spurs flummoxed New Jersey with a zone defense for extended periods during the series. But they didn’t play it as much in Game 6 and the Nets responded by streaking past them for easy fast-break baskets. At one point in the first half, the Nets scored nine consecutive points from the fast break.

New Jersey’s athleticism bedeviled the Spurs throughout the game as San Antonio didn’t take its first first lead until 6:33 remained in the game. That came when Jackson made his second 3-pointer and the Spurs never looked back.

Kidd led New Jersey with 21 point and seven assists.

Robinson left the court with 35.6 seconds left to a tumultuous reaction from Spurs Nation. After the game, Robinson got a long, emotional hug from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich before running across the court and pulling one of his sons out of the crowd to help him celebrate.

“Normally, I don’t drink champagne,” Robinson said in the jubilant Spurs locker room after the victory. “But tonight, I wear champagne.”

They said it, part I: “To finish my career in the NBA Finals, win the championship, that’s a play only written by God. It’s an incredible day for me. How can you walk away any better than this?” Robinson, to reporters about the memorable ending of his career.

They said it, part II: “Besides us winning it, you would want David Robinson to (win) because of the type of person he is,” Nets coach Byron Scott on the Spurs’ triumph.

They said it, part III: “He dug down deep and obviously showed how important this was for him,” Popovich, on Robinson’s big game.

They said it, part IV: “One of the greats we get a chance to say goodbye to, tonight, David Robinson. Thank you,” NBA commissioner David Stern, at the start of the Spurs’ post-game trophy presentation.

They said it, part V: “That’s cool,” Duncan on his near quadruple-double.

They said it, part VI: “That’s been the whole theme in this series. Last team who’s hot normally wins the game, and San Antonio was hot at the end,” Kidd, to reporters about the Spurs’ late charge.

They said it, part VII: “It hurts, just like last year hurt. But we lost to the better team,” Kidd, in describing the Nets’ second straight Finals series loss.

They said it, part VIII: “It’s an incredible feeling to do it here, to give our fans a kind of a treat. It’s great for them and great for us,” Duncan, on the Spurs’ first series-clinching home playoff victory of the season.

They said it, part IX: “Dave’s been an incredible part of this team for a lot of years. For a second there on the court, during the last couple of seconds, I really thought, ‘I’m not going to play with this guy again. It’s going to be weird,’ ” Duncan, to reporters on playing with Robinson in his last career game.

They said it, part X: “He just had one of those games where he just couldn’t throw it in the ocean. It had nothing to do with him not being aggressive because I thought he was aggressive. He was playing, he just couldn’t make a basket,” Scott on Martin’s struggles.

They said it, part XI: “I just played horrible, man, and I’ll have all summer to think about it. I didn’t show up when it counted. It’s more frustrating than anything, knowing I didn’t bring it when we needed it,” Martin, on his struggling Game 6.

THE UPSHOT: Robinson and Duncan shared Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year” honors at the end of the year … Jackson and Claxton never appeared in another Spurs game … The Spurs became the first team in league history to win 16 playoff games as 2003 was the first season where a team was required to win four playoff games in four series … Spurs veterans played a big part in their title run as 19-year veteran Kevin Willis, 12-year pro Steve Smith and 13-year veteran Danny Ferry all were a part of the title team … Jackson finished with six turnovers, four shy of the finals record of 10 set by Magic Johnson of the Lakers on May 14, 1980. … Duncan finished the playoffs with double-doubles in his last 14 games … At 21 years and 29 days, Parker was the second-youngest player to win an NBA title. Only Magic Johnson was younger … Willis, at 40 years, 9 months and 9 days was the second oldest player in history to win an NBA championship … Duncan, Robinson, Malik Rose and Steve Kerr were the only holdovers from that team … The Spurs would go on without Robinson to claim two more championships over the next four seasons. The Nets never have advanced past the Eastern Conference semifinals since then.